Variable safe separation timer



June 27, 1961 H. D. NUFFER, 2,990,507

VARIABLE SAFE SEPARATION TIMER Filed Nov. 25, 1958 IAAAA/AA A INVENTOR. HAROLD NUFFER BY ATTg #M RNEYS United States P i F j 2,990,507 VARIABLE SAFE SEPARATION TIMER Harold D. Nufler, China Lake, Califl, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Nov. 25, 1958, Ser. No. 776,391 8 Claims. (Cl. 322-3) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

.The present invention relates to electromechanical switches and more particularly to a timing switch for producing a pulse of electrical energy sufficient to activate an electrical circuit at a desired time.

The device of the present invention comprises a torsionally loaded gear segment which is geared through an escapement, and which when released to rotate will, when it has moved to its final position, reverse a magnetic circuit causing a current to flow through an electric circuit. The present invention is of simple construction and has a high degree of accuracy. The timing in the present switch can be varied by changing the position of the segmerited gear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a time variable electro-mechanical timer switch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved electro-mechanical timer for activating electrical circuits.

, A further object of the invention is to provide anew and improved'timer for producing a pulse of electrical energy suflicient to actuate an electrical circuit.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the figure is a schematic diagram of the variable timer of the present invention.

Referring to the figure of drawing torsion spring 1 is mounted about shaft 2 for turning the shaft in rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. Gear segment 3 is attached to shaft 2 for rotation therewith and is mounted thereon in a manner allowing it to be repositioned for varying the time. The teeth on gear segment 3 mesh with the teeth of small gear 5 which is mounted on shaft 6. Escapement gear 7 is also mounted on shaft 6 and canies a latch pin 8 mounted thereon. An escapement 9 is 'mounted on its own shaft above escapement gear 7 such that the teeth of theescapernent are adjacent the teeth of the escapement gear. v 1

A pawl 10, which latches pin 8 to prevent the gears from rotating, is carried onmovable arm 11 of solenoid 12. A pair of electrical leads 13 is attached to solenoid 12. Electrical actuation of solenoid 12 moves arm 11 and pawl 10, thus releasing latch pin 8 and allowingthe gears to rotate. Other suitable means for moving pawl also may be used. I

Gear segment 3 is formed with a face 21 designed to contact end 15 of generator arm 16 of a pulse generator and move the arm when the gear segment rotates a predetermined distance. The pulse generator comprises two magnets 17 and 18 and the generator arm 16. Generator arm 16 is an iron core having an electrical winding 19 wound thereabout, and is pivoted about pivot 20. Winding 19 is connected to output terminals 22; electrical circuits to be activated are connected to output terminals 22.

The variable timer of the present invention operates as follows: An electrical current is applied to terminals 13 for actuating solenoid '12. When solenoid 12 is actuated,

2,990,507 Patented June 27, 1 961 solenoid arm 11 and pawl 10 are moved, thus releasing latch pin 8. Release of latch pin 8 allows the gears to rotate, and gear segment 3 is rotated counter-clockwise, as permitted by escapement 9, by means of torsion spring 1 until the' gear segment has traveled to the end of its teeth. When gear segment is rotated gear face 21 comes into contact with end 15 of generator arm 16 rapidly moves the arm in a clockwise direction from its original position, as shown in the figure of drawing, where end 15 is adjacent the south pole of magnet 17 to a final position where end 15 is adjacent the north pole of magnet 18. When generator arm 16 is rotated from its original position to its final position, the magnetic circuit is reversed causing. an electric current to be generated in coil 19 and supplied across output terminals 22. This current may be used for actuating an electrical circuit attached to terminals 22.

Obviously manymodifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

l. A timing device for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatable torsionally loaded segment gear, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear and escapement means for controlling speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released allowing said segment gear to rotate.

2. A timing device for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatably mounted and torsionally loaded segment gear, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear, an escapement means for controlling speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released allowing said segment gear to rotate and means for. releasing said latch means.

3. A timing device for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatably mounted segment gear, drive means for turning said segment gear in rotation, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear, an escapement means for controlling the speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released allowing said segment gear to rotate, means for releasing said latch means and means for varying the amount of rotation of said segment gear.

4. A variable time switch for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatably mounted segment gear, drive means for turning said segment gear in rotation, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear, an escapement means operatively connected to said segment gear for controlling the speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released 'to allow said segment gear to rotate, means for re1eas ing said latch means, means for varying the amount of rotation of said segment gear, and electric pulse generating means, said pulse generating means operable to generate a single electrical pulse when actuated by said segment gear, surface means on said segment gear operable to actuate said pulse generating means when said segment gear is rotated from its initial to its final position, said single electrical pulse operable to operate an electrical circuit, said pulse generating means comprising a pair of U-shaped magnets and a pivotable armature having an electrical coil wound thereon, said armature operable to be pivoted by the surface means on said segment gear, the poles of said magnets being positioned such that when one end of said armature is adjacent the south pole of the first of said pair of magnets the other end is adjacent the north pole of said first magnet and when the armature is pivoted by the surface means on said segment gear said one end of the armature is moved adjacent the north pole of the second of said pair of a magnets and said other end of the armatureis moved adjacent the south pole of said second magnet, the reversal of magnetic flux in said armature causing an electrical signal to be generated in said coil.

5. A variable time switch for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatable torsionally loaded segment gear, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear, escapement means for controlling speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released allowing said segment gear to rotate, and electric pulse generating means, said pulse generating means operated by movement of said segment gear for generating a single electric pulse, said pulse generating means comprising a pair of U-shapcd magnets and a pivotable armature having an electrical coil wound thereon, said armature operable to be pivoted by said segment gear, the poles of said magnets being positioned such that when one end of said armature is adjacent the south pole of the first of said pair of magnets the other end isadjacent the north pole of said first magnet and when the armature is pivoted by the surface means on said segment gear said one end of the armature is moved adjacent the north pole of the second of said pair of magnets and said other end of the armature is moved adjacent the south pole of said second magnet, the reversal of magnetic flux in said armature causing an electric signal to be generated in said coil.

6. A timing device comprising a rotatably mounted segment gear having a circular peripheral surface comprising gear teeth for approximately 180 of revolution and a linear peripheral surface extending inwardly along a radius from one end of said circular peripheral surface, a single spring biased for rotating said segment gear, a rotatably mounted pinion gear in engagement with the teeth of said segment gear, a rotatably mounted escapement gear including a pin mounted on and extending from the plane surface thereof, said escapement gear axially aligned with and operably connected to said pinion gear for simultaneous rotation therewith, escapement means operably connected to said escapement gear for controlling the speed of rotation of said gears, a pivotally mounted pawl engaging said pin for preventing rotation of said gears, a solenoid operatively connected to said pawl for releasing said pin thereby allowing controlled rotation of said segment gear until said pinion is out of engagement with said segment gear at which time said segment gear is rapidly rotated.

7. A timing switch for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatably mounted segment gear having a circular peripheral surface comprising gear teeth for approximately 180 of revolution and a linear peripheral surface extending inwardly along a radial from one end of said circular peripheral surface, a single bias for rotating said segment gear, latch means for preventing rotation of said segment gear, means for controlling the speed of rotation of said segment gear when said latch means is released, an electric pulse generating means comprising a pair of U-shaped magnets and a pivotally mounted armature having an electric coil wound thereon, said armature extending beyond one pole and in contact with both poles of one of said U-shaped magnets wherein one edge of said armature in longitudinal alignment with the axis of rotation of said segment gear, the distance between the axis of rotation of said segment gear and the axis of rotation of said pivotally mounted armature being less than the sum of the lengths of the radius of said segment gear and the length of the armature from its pivot point to the end thereof extending beyond said one pole, whereby upon rotation, of said segment gear said linear peripheral surface becomes longitudinally aligned and in facial contact with the extended portion of said armature and then rapidly rotates said armature into contact with the other of said U-shaped magnets causing an electrical signal to be generated in said coil.

8. A timing switch for activating an electrical circuit comprising a rotatably mounted segment gear having a circular peripheral surface comprising gear teeth for ap proximately of revolution and a linear peripheral surface extending inwardly along a radial from one end of said circular peripheral surface, a single spring for rotating said segment gear, a rotatably mounted pinion gear in engagement with the gear teeth of said segment gear, a rotatably mounted escapement gear including a pin mounted on the plane surface thereof, said escapement gear-axially aligned with and operably connected to said pinion gear for a simultaneous rotation therewith, escapement means operably connected to said escapement gear for controlling the speed of rotation of said gears, a pivotally mounted pawl engaging said pin for preventing rotation of said gears, means for rotating said pawl for releasing said pin thereby allowing rotation of said gears, an electric pulse generating means comprising first and second U-shaped magnets and a pivotally mounted longitudinally extending armature having an electric coil wound thereon, said first U-shaped magnet having the plane surface of one pole in alignment with the axis of rotation of said segment and said pinion gears and the plane surface of the other pole spaced above-the plane surface of said one pole a distance approximately equal to the traverse width of said armature, the axis of rotation of said armature being between said planes and closer to said one pole than to said another pole, one end of said armature being in contact with said other pole and the other end in contact with and extending beyond said one pole sufiiciently so that the linear peripheral surface of said segment gear is in facial contact with the armature extension upon rotation of said segment gear, one pole of said second U-shaped magnet being spaced a first distance above the plane of said other pole of said first U-shaped magnet and the other pole of said second U-shaped magnet being spaced a second distance below the plane of said one pole of said first U-shaped magnet, said first distance being less than said second distance, whereby upon approximately complete geared rotation of said segment gear said linear peripheral surface is in facial contact with said armature extension and upon complete geared rotation said bias for said segment gear rapidly rotates said armature into contact with the poles of said second U-shaped magnet causing an electrical signal to be generated in said coil.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

